Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation: Energy performance

Better Buildings Challenge Partners strive to decrease portfolio-wide source energy use intensity (EUI) and to increase the percent improvement compared to a set baseline. Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation's (TNDC) portfolio consists of 40 properties and nearly 2.5 million square feet. Since 2018, TNDC has improved energy performance by an average of 0.9% each year.  This is equivalent to a cumulative improvement of 2.2%, accounting for the varying lengths of time properties were included in TNDC’s portfolio. TNDC's energy savings have been achieved by implementing whole-building retrofits and system specific retrofits across various properties. TNDC pursued HVAC, LED lighting and appliance upgrades at over 10 properties, and offset energy usage by implementing Solar PV projects. TNDC uses a sophisticated benchmarking and tracking platform to report anomalies to site staff members. It is also used as the focus of an energy awareness program to educate tenants.

Looking at the percent improvement in energy performance across all properties can provide insight into how an organization is saving energy.  TNDC has achieved energy performance improvement of greater than 6% at 10 of its properties. There are 18 properties that have experienced an increase in Source EUI. These properties have been targeted for future partial electrification and energy efficiency improvements.

Property-level energy performance metrics, including EUI and percent improvement to date, are critical to track progress over time and identify opportunities for additional energy savings. TNDC's portfolio consists of properties with  a wide range of baseline EUI values, most of which are from 50 to 150 kBtu/sq. ft. The majority of properties have shown energy improvement since 2018. The properties located near or below the 0% axis may present good opportunities for further savings.

Better Buildings Challenge Partners strive to decrease portfolio-wide source water use intensity (WUI) and to increase the percent improvement compared to a set baseline. TNDC's portfolio consists of 40 buildings and nearly 2.5 million square feet. They have improved water performance by an average of -1.1% annually. TNDC's water savings have been achieved by implementing no-cost to low cost water retrofits across various properties and partnering with SFPUC to pursue in-depth water evaluations and active monitoring using WegoWise to prevent water leaks, and an awareness program focused on educating tenants on water conservation.

Better Buildings Waste Pilot cohort participants strive to reduce portfolio-wide waste intensity and increase the percentage of overall waste diverted from a landfill, also known as the waste diversion rate. Tenderloin is working towards a goal of 60% waste diversion. In 2020, Tenderloin tracked waste at over 40 properties and achieved a waste diversion rate of 38% by volume, a metric used by Recology and TNDC  (25% by weight, metric used by Better Buildings Waste Pilot). Tenderloin tracked multiple material types including trash, mixed recyclables, and compostable materials.